THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW Pauses Production Due to Strike Backlash
By Movieguide® Contributor
THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW has halted its planned return to the air amid backlash from the WGA strike.
Last week, Movieguide® reported, “’THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW is resuming production this week…and will return on Sept. 18, which was its previously scheduled Season 2 premiere date,’ Variety reported. ‘Hudson’s nationally syndicated show, which is covered by the WGA, will begin its season without writers, sources say, but intends to resume WGA writers once a new contract is in place.’”
However, plans have changed since then.
Entertainment Weekly shared on Sunday, “THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW has paused production and pushed back its return to the air following backlash from the writers’ strike, EW has learned.”
The decision seems to follow the pause on Drew Barrymore’s talk show, which was also scheduled for a September 18 return.
“On Sunday, Barrymore announced that her talk show would not be returning, after all. Her decision has now created a domino effect across daytime,” Variety reported.
“Barrymore had been facing intense blowback after she posted on her Instagram that her talk show would be returning amid the strikes,” the outlet continued. “Shortly after Barrymore’s decision to pause production on her show until after the strikes are over, CBS’ THE TALK also pushed back their premiere date.”
The actress took to Instagram to make the announcement and offer an apology.
“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” she shared in her most recent post. “I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon.”
While Hudson’s show is now postponed, the talk show’s Instagram account had posted clips from upcoming episodes, featuring guests like Chance the Rapper and Khloe Kardashian.
However, Sherri Shepherd’s talk show SHERRI still plans to return, “though it is not a struck show covered by the Writers Guild of America,” Variety added.
“Talk shows operate under the SAG-AFTRA Network Code, allowing hosts like Hudson and Barrymore to continue in their hosting role, so none of the hosts are violating SAG-AFTRA rules,” Variety reported.
Movieguide® previously reported on Barrymore’s talk show:
After Drew Barrymore announced that her talk show would return, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) clarified that she is breaking guidelines and those working on the show are violating the strike.
“THE DREW BARRYMORE SHOW’s WGA writers, fans, and our union allies held the picket line for 8+ hours outside of CBS. The Guild has, and will continue, to picket shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on THE DREW BARRYMORE SHOW is in violation of WGA strike rules,” the union said on Monday.
Barrymore announced previously that she is returning to her show but would honor the ongoing strikes by avoiding work covered by the strikes.
MSN reported, ”Whether WGA-covered shows returning without writers violates strike rules is the subject of debate—some critics have called the return of these shows a ‘moral violation’ of the strikes and believe production of these shows cannot occur without anybody completing writing work, which would be forbidden by the strike rules.”
